Nassau County approves $3.22 million design contract for new animal resources campus

The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 17 approved a contract not to exceed $3,220,000 with FMD Architects, doing business as Shelter Planners of America, to provide professional engineering and design services for a new Nassau County Animal Resources campus.

County Director of Strategic Advancement Brandy Carvallo and Deputy County Manager Robert Buchanan summarized the multi-year planning process behind the project and presented the contract to commissioners. Carvallo said the county acquired a site on State Route 200 in 2024 and added the project to the county’s Capital Improvement Program in 2021. The county completed a needs assessment with consultant Animal Arts and developed concepts focused on a contemporary, “retail-style” adoption flow to shorten animals’ length of stay, Carvallo said.

Carvallo told the board the new model emphasizes calm animal environments, hospital-grade ventilation and isolation areas, improved public visitation and adoption spaces, outdoor exercise/walking trails, livestock holding and modern staff and volunteer facilities. “Every decision that we make is about shortening what we call the length of stay,” she said, adding that reducing length of stay lowers long-term operating and care costs.

Buchanan said the contract covers the entire campus — multiple buildings and horizontal engineering (stormwater and site work) — and includes construction administration to ensure the built outcome matches the design. He urged commissioners to consider lifecycle operating and maintenance savings from a contemporary model over decades rather than the lower upfront cost of a traditional “warehouse” shelter.

Presentations to the board laid out program history and numbers discussed during the meeting: the current shelter was built in 1994; the board allocated $1,250,000 in 2022 toward the project; the county acquired the SR-200 property in 2024; earlier consultant estimates indicated a likely construction cost in the $32–$38 million range for a modern facility; and design fees for the project represent about 8.75% of the projected construction cost, below the national average cited in the presentation (9–12%). Carvallo and Buchanan also described site-specific needs such as drainage, HVAC filtration, odor control, and secure veterinary and isolation spaces.

Commissioners asked questions about cost, site phasing and public outreach. Commissioner Gray praised the on-site veterinarian and said the shelter has been a high-volume public concern in recent months. Commissioner Farmer urged the county not to abandon the project after multi-year planning, suggesting a public workshop to share plans. Several commissioners emphasized the long-term savings argument: higher upfront capital spending to reduce recurring operating costs.

The board first moved Tab H from the consent agenda to new business and then, later in the meeting, Commissioner Martin moved to approve Tab H; Commissioner Farmer seconded. The motion passed with all present voting yes (Chair A.M. Huttman, Commissioners Martin, Gray and Farmer). Commissioner McCullough was recorded absent.

The approved contract covers phased design, permitting, bidding assistance and construction administration with Shelter Planners of America. County staff said the schedule anticipates beginning design and permitting in 2025, commencing construction in 2027 and aiming for a 2028–2029 completion window, but that schedule depends on later approvals and construction market conditions.

Staff noted the project will explore cost-saving measures such as phasing and right-sizing nonessential square footage while protecting critical systems (ventilation, isolation and drainage). The project team includes staff from county procurement and capital projects; the presentation listed members of the review team who evaluated proposals and negotiated fees.

Next steps identified during the meeting: contract execution, commencement of schematic design, and continued public and stakeholder engagement as the design advances. Staff indicated future agenda items will present further budget requests and construction funding options as design progresses.

Votes at a glance: - Tab H: Approve and authorize chairman to sign contract CM 3987 with FMD Architects, DBA Shelter Planners of America, for design services for the animal resources campus in a not-to-exceed amount of $3,220,000. Motion: Commissioner Martin; Second: Commissioner Farmer. Outcome: approved (4–0; Commissioner McCullough absent).